Pleasant Grove (7-2) at Riverton (5-4)

5A state tournament first round

Friday, 5 p.m.

Parry's Power Guide: Pleasant Grove by 19

All-time series: Pleasant Grove leads 3-1

Coach vs. Coach: Pleasant Grove's Dale Sampson leads Riverton's Mike Miller, 3-1

Last meeting: Sept. 5, 2008 — Pleasant Grove 25, Riverton 3

Riverton coach Mike Miller gets the same reaction every time someone asks him who his team's first-round opponent is in the 5A playoffs.

"When I tell them (it's Pleasant Grove) they say, 'Ohhh,'" Miller said.

The reaction isn't exactly a vote of confidence for Miller and the Silverwolves. Pleasant Grove, despite losing its last two games, is still dangerous and highly respected around the state. The Vikings are confident heading into the playoffs after going toe-to-toe with Alta before losing in overtime last week.

The previous week the Vikings were hammered by Lone Peak.

"I want to say we played much better than the week before," said Pleasant Grove coach Dale Sampson. "If we make as much progress this week as we made last week, I think we'll be ready for a playoff run."

Riverton, which has yet to win a playoff game in the school's history, is the first roadblock for the Vikings. The teams and coaching staffs have some familiarity with each other as they played preseason games against each other from 2005-08.

The Silverwolves know from experience that they will have to make some plays against Pleasant Grove's tough defense with their wing-T scheme.

"I think it will be a battle of defenses," Miller said. "It's a matter of which offense can exploit the other defense. They have a bunch of Division I (commits), but my little guys get after it."

Pleasant Grove ended the regular season with a banged-up roster but hopes to get a little healthier in time for Friday's game. Sampson said quarterback Dallas Lloyd looks much better this week than he did last week but that the Stanford commit will again be a game-time decision.

Donny Lewis filled in for Lloyd against Lone Peak and Alta after Lloyd separated his shoulder against Brighton. Lewis scored on a rushing touchdown against the Hawks, and like many of the other Vikings, played much better against Alta than he did against Lone Peak.